A seven-story, $2.3-million high-rise apartment building project for the elderly, proposed by a non-profit affiliate of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Easton, was granted a special exception for parking spaces by the Easton Planning Commission last night.

The project, proposed by Antonian Ltd., a non-profit ecumenical organization, calls for a building to be constructed on what is now a playground at the intersection of 9th, Walnut and Washington streets.

The land, owned by St. Anthony's, will be donated to the project.

Planning Director Gary Cleaver said that a building the size of the one proposed ordinarily requires 50 parking spaces, but that the zoning code allows the commission to reduce the number when the facility will be used only for senior citizens.

The Planning Commission approved a plan that calls for 40 spaces.

Plans drawn up by architect Dale Roth of Allentown show that there will be 50 apartment units in the building. Of the total, 13 will be efficiency units, and the rest will be one-bedroom units; 10 percent of the apartments will be reserved for the handicapped.

Of the total project cost, $1.9 mil- lion will go toward actual construction of the brick building, which also will feature granite tile in the archway at the main entrance. The rest of the money will be used for site improvements and construction interest costs.

The construction is being funded through a loan from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The department will also subsidize rents at the apartments. Antonian Ltd. will be responsible for repayment of the debt to HUD.

Monsignor Robert Forst told the commission last night, "Our intent has been to try to fill part of a crying need for housing for our low-income elderly."

The project was approved for funding by HUD last year. The first proposal, made in 1979, was to convert the former Betts Hospital at 15th and Washington streets and construct a high -rise there. That proposal, which called for 100 units, was turned down several times by HUD.

The proposal that was finally approved was endorsed in 1983 by Easton city officials. The original plan called for 96 one-bedroom and efficiency units, but that was scaled down because HUD approved funding only for the number of units now proposed.

Antonian Ltd. still must obtain variances from the Zoning Hearing Board on building height and setbacks before beginning construction. The non-profit group will seek that approval during the zoners' Dec. 16 meeting.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for the spring.

The commission also granted a special exception, based on compliance with certain conditions, to a Palmer Township surgeon and his wife who want to develop apart- ments in the Mohican Market building at 23 S. 4th St.

Dr. and Mrs. Jerald Friedman of 3646 Mountainview Ave. said they plan to establish 12 apartments on the second and third floors of the building, which have been vacant for more than 10 years.

He said six apartments would be established on each of the two floors, which he described as "empty shells" in extreme disrepair. Those on the second floor would be 500-600 square feet and have lofts. The third-floor apartments would be larger, roughly 700-800 square feet, with some having two bedrooms.

Cleaver said Friedman has secured 12 spaces in the city parking garage that could be used by tenants.

Friedman, who said he is trying to purchase the building from Stephen Constantine of Easton by the end of the year, said he has people ready to start work immediately. But he said he wanted a "grass-roots impression" of the planners' feelings.

Commission members said they did not have enough information to make a final decision, but granted the special exception as long as more detailed plans are submitted in the next few weeks.

The special exception was needed because the structure fails to conform with requirements for an apartment building in that area. Variances also will be needed from the Zoning Hearing Board, and action on them is expected at the zoners' Dec. 16 meeting.

Action had been expected last night on Woodcliff Manor, a subdivision on College Hill. But that plan was withdrawn on Tuesday to give the developers more time to talk to potential buyers of lots.

The plan for four lots on the 4.29-acre tract, to the east of Paxinosa Avenue and overlooking the Delaware River, had drawn complaints from residents of the area during the Planning Commission's Nov. 11 meeting.

Cleaver said a seven-lot subdivision plan for the land originally submitted in 1979 still remains before the board.

The board also approved subdivision of a lot at 731 Ferry St., owned by John Leone of Wilson. Leone proposed to sell the half of the lot fronting on Ferry Street and retain control of a garage at the rear facing Washington Court for use in his bakery business.

A special exception was also granted to Keith and Sharon Evans of Plumstead Township on plans for a building at 1198 Butler Street. They plan to use the two top floors of the four-story former Lehr Furniture building for living space and the bottom two floors for their business, Zoom Corp.

Keith Evans told the commission that his business, currently located in Frenchtown, N.J., manufactures "James Bond-style" custom electronic furniture and employs six people. Zoning variances will also be needed before relocation could be completed.